A/HRC/10/12
page 15
63. Restrictions on freedoms of human rights defenders which were addressed included
freedom of expression, particularly in African States such as Algeria, Tunisia, and Zambia, in
Asian States such as India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Uzbekistan, and in the United Arab
Emirates; freedom of assembly and association, particularly in north African States such as
Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, but also in all regions of the world; and freedom of movement in
Israel, Indonesia, Morocco and Tunisia.
64. Administrative and judicial matters mentioned in relation to human rights defenders
included arrest and detention, particularly in Asian States such as Pakistan, the Republic of
Korea, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and Middle Eastern States such as Bahrain, and the
United Arab Emirates; impunity, particularly in South American States such as Colombia and
Guatemala, and Asian States such as India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Philippines; judicial
reform, judicial harassment, and the erosion of the rule of law in Indonesia, Morocco and
Pakistan; closure, registration, and close monitoring of funding in relation to NGOs, particularly
in Asian States such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan; and Bahrain; and
rejection of applications for asylum in the United Kingdom.
65. Targeting of specific groups was mentioned in relation to women human rights defenders
in Bahrain, Serbia and Zambia; indigenous groups particularly in South American States such as
Ecuador and Peru, and Asian States such as India and the Philippines; rural groups in Serbia;
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex groups in Eastern European States such as
Poland and Serbia, and South American States such as Argentina and Ecuador; witnesses in
Peru; and persons belonging to minorities in Israel.
66. Issues raised in relation to the infrastructure in place for human rights defenders included
the inefficiency of institutions for human rights defenders, particularly regarding African States
such as Botswana and Zambia; security and protection in Colombia, Indonesia, Serbia and
Tuvalu; and Government involvement in NGOs in Pakistan and Turkmenistan.
67. Other matters raised in relation to human rights defenders included land rights (Brazil and
India), environmental rights (Peru), and enforced disappearances (Indonesia). Positive action
taken by States was also commended in many compilations of United Nations information, while
recommendations and requests for action by States to fulfil their human rights obligations were
made as well.
3. Summary of stakeholder information: overview and analysis
68. According to the provisions of resolution 5/1, the review shall also be based on
“Additional, credible and reliable information provided by other relevant stakeholders to the
universal periodic review which should also be taken into consideration by the Council in the
review. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights will prepare a summary of such
information which shall not exceed 10 pages.”13
13
Ibid., para. 15 (c).
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